Canadá: Potato harvest expected up in Manitoba, Alberta
Potato yields should be slightly above average in Manitoba and Alberta this year, but figures aren’t available because the harvest is only 10 to 15 percent complete.
Terence Hochstein, executive director of Potato Growers of Alberta, said growing conditions were excellent this year and there were almost no issues with disease.
Alberta potato growers had record yields last year, averaging 361.2 hundredweight per acre, which is up from the 2010-14 of 315 to 360 cwt. per acre.Dan Sawatzky, general manager of the Keystone Potato Producers Association, said yields should also be decent in Manitoba.
Average yields have been 305 to 310 cwt. per acre the last couple of years, and Sawatzky expects comparable production this fall.Manitoba should produce more potatoes than last year because Simplot and McCain Foods, which operate french fry processing plants in the province, increased contract volumes by 18 percent.Manitoba farmers planted 63,000 acres of potatoes last year, and market watchers were expecting acres to jump, given the larger contract.
Sawatzky said acreage increased to 67,000.Potato quality is good to excellent in Manitoba and Alberta.The prairie potato harvest should be complete by the end of September, weather permitting.
Fuente: freshplaza
